# Scripting features
This topic provides reference information comparing the scripting and automation capabilities of Microsoft SQL Server 2019 and Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL. It highlights the differences in tool sets and scripting languages between these two database systems. The topic explains that SQL Server supports T-SQL and XQuery scripting within various frameworks, while Aurora PostgreSQL, as a Platform as a Service, offers different approaches for database administration and scripting.
| Feature compatibility | AWS SCT / AWS DMS automation level | AWS SCT action code index | Key differences |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
|  | N/A | N/A | Non-compatible tool sets and scripting languages. Use PostgreSQL `pgAdmin`, Amazon RDS API, AWS Management Console, and AWS CLI. |
## SQL Server Usage
SQL Server supports T-SQL and XQuery scripting within multiple run frameworks such as SQL Server Agent, and stored procedures.
The `SQLCMD` command line utility can also be used to run T-SQL scripts. However, the most extensive and feature-rich scripting environment is PowerShell.
SQL Server provides two PowerShell snap-ins that implement a provider exposing the entire SQL Server Management Object Model (SMO) as PowerShell paths. Additionally, you can use `cmd` in SQL Server to run specific SQL Server commands.
**Note**
You can use `Invoke-Sqlcmd` to run scripts using the SQLCMD utility.
The `sqlps` utility launches the PowerShell scripting environment and automatically loads the SQL Server modules. You can launch `sqlps` from a command prompt or from the Object Explorer pane of SQL Server Management Studio. You can run one-time PowerShell commands and script files (for example, `.\SomeFolder\SomeScript.ps1`).
**Note**
SQL Server Agent supports running PowerShell scripts in job steps. For more information, see [SQL Server Agent](chap-sql-server-aurora-pg.management.scheduledlambda.md).
SQL Server also supports three types of direct database engine queries: T-SQL, XQuery, and the SQLCMD utility. You can call T-SQL and XQuery from stored procedures, SQL Server Management Studio (or other IDE), and SQL Server agent jobs. The SQLCMD utility also supports commands and variables.
### Examples
Backup a database with PowerShell using the default backup options.
```
PS C:\> Backup-SqlDatabase -ServerInstance "MyServer\SQLServerInstance" -Database "MyDB"
```
Get all rows from the `MyTable` table in the `MyDB` database.
```
PS C:\> Read-SqlTableData -ServerInstance MyServer\SQLServerInstance" -DatabaseName "MyDB" -TableName "MyTable"
```
For more information, see [SQL Server PowerShell](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/powershell/sql-server-powershell?view=sql-server-ver15), [Database Engine Scripting](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/scripting/database-engine-scripting?view=sql-server-ver15), and [sqlcmd Utility](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd-utility?view=sql-server-ver15) in the *SQL Server documentation*.
## PostgreSQL Usage
As a Platform as a Service (PaaS), Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition (Aurora PostgreSQL) accepts connections from any compatible client, but you can’t access the PostgreSQL command line utility typically used for database administration. However, you can use PostgreSQL tools installed on a network host and the Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS) API. The most common tools for Aurora PostgreSQL scripting and automation include PostgreSQL `pgAdmin`, PostgreSQL utilities, and the Amazon RDS API. The following sections describe each tool.
### PostgreSQL pgAdmin
PostgreSQL `pgAdmin` is the most commonly used tool for development and administration of PostgreSQL servers. It is available as a free Community Edition and paid support is available.
The PostgreSQL `pgAdmin` also supports a Python scripting shell that you can use interactively and programmatically. For more information see: [pgAdmin](https://www.pgadmin.org/).
### Amazon RDS API
The Amazon RDS API is a web service for managing and maintaining Aurora PostgreSQL and other relational databases. You can use Amazon RDS API to setup, operate, scale, backup, and perform many common administration tasks. The Amazon RDS API supports multiple database platforms and can integrate administration seamlessly for heterogeneous environments.
**Note**
The Amazon RDS API is asynchronous. Some interfaces may require polling or callback functions to receive command status and results.
You can access Amazon RDS using the AWS Management Console, the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI), and the Amazon RDS Programmatic API as described in the following sections.
### AWS Management Console
The AWS Management Console is a simple web-based set of tools for interactive management of Aurora PostgreSQL and other Amazon RDS services. To access the AWS Management Console, sign in to your AWS account, and choose **RDS**.
### AWS Command Line Interface
The AWS Command Line Interface is an open source tool that runs on Linux, Windows, or macOS having Python 2 version 2.6.5 and higher or Python 3 version 3.3 and higher.
The AWS CLI is built on top of the AWS SDK for Python (Boto), which provides commands for interacting with AWS services. With minimal configuration, you can start using all AWS Management Console functionality from your favorite terminal application.
+ **Linux shells** — Use common shell programs such as Bash, Zsh, or tsch.
+ **Windows command line** — Run commands in PowerShell or the Windows Command Processor.
+ **Remotely** — Run commands on Amazon EC2 instances through a remote terminal such as PuTTY or SSH.
The AWS Tools for Windows PowerShell and AWS Tools for PowerShell Core are PowerShell modules built on the functionality exposed by the AWS SDK for .NET. These Tools enable scripting operations for AWS resources using the PowerShell command line.
**Note**
You can’t use SQL Server cmdlets in PowerShell.
### Amazon RDS Programmatic API
You can use the Amazon RDS API to automate management of database instances and other Amazon RDS objects.
For more information, see [Actions](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_Operations.html), [Data Types](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/API_Types.html), [Common Parameters](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/CommonParameters.html), and [Common Errors](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/CommonErrors.html) in the *Amazon Relational Database Service API Reference*.
### Examples
The following walkthrough describes how to connect to an Aurora PostgreSQL database instance using the PostgreSQL utility.
1. Sign in to your AWS account, choose **RDS**, and then choose **Databases**.
1. Choose the PostgreSQL database you want to connect to and copy the cluster endpoint address.
**Note**
You can also connect to individual database instances. For more information, see [High Availability Essentials](chap-sql-server-aurora-pg.hadr.essentials.md).
1. In the command shell, enter the following:
```
psql --host=mypostgresql.c6c8mwvfdgv0.us-west-2.rds.amazonaws.com
--port=5432 --username=awsuser --password --dbname=mypgdb
```
In the preceding example, the `--host` parameter is the endpoint DNS name of the Aurora PostgreSQL database cluster.
In the preceding example, the `--port` parameter is the port number.
For more information, see [Command Line Interface Command Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cli/latest/reference/) and [Amazon Relational Database Service API Reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/APIReference/Welcome.html).